The city of Udine has declined an
invitation from Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) President
Gabriele Gravina for it to be among the sponsors of the
Italy-Israel Nations League match scheduled to take place at its
Friuli stadium on October 14.
The city told ANSA that it had decided that sponsoring the match
"would be divisive with Israel being a State at war".
Relations with Parliament Minister Luca Ciriani said the
decision by Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni's centre-left executive
was "wrong".
"Sport and politics should remain two separate things, in part
because the national team represents all Israelis, regardless of
the judgements each of us can have about their government, which
is, and remains, a democracy," he added.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'll do everything I can to be present
at the Friuli stadium on the day of the match, both to cheer on
Italy and to express my affinity for the Israeli people".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
